Work at the old RNIB building in Judd Street

NEIGHBOURS say they are at breaking point over relentless noise from a construction site in King’s Cross.

People living around Judd Street say the work on the former RNIB building has become unbearable ­– with no end in sight.

The site is being transformed into a new laboratory for medical research charity LifeArc.

It currently has space in the nearby Francis Crick Institute where scientists are trying to deliver fully human antibodies to treat diseases like inflamma­­tory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

But the construction works on their new lab are going on without any consideration for the humans living close by, the neighbours claimed.

Debbie Radcliffe, co-chair of the Bloomsbury Residents Action Group (BRAG) said: “When the investor bought the RNIB building didn’t they realise it was right in the middle of a residential area? Didn’t they see it was surrounded by flats and terraces of Grade II- listed houses? Surely they knew that construction noise from here would infuriate people living nearby, or perhaps they simply didn’t care.”

She added: “In January the contractor said that the noisiest part of the work had been the roof demolition, which was now complete, but frankly it’s only got worse. The external scaffolding was removed and no effective sound barrier put in place to mitigate the noise of drilling, banging and metal cutting which reverberates around the neighbourhood.”

Professor Deirdre Kelly, who lives next door to the development added: “I don’t think they care about us at all. It feels their communications officer is paid to be obstructive. The developers are just determined to continue.”

Native Land, the developers, recently applied to Camden’s Planning Obligations team for extended working hours on Saturdays, but this was withdrawn after a mass of objections from residents.

Ms Radcliffe said: “It’s a massive intrusion on the daily life of everyone who lives nearby – especially those of us who work from home. Five days is bad enough, but did they really think we would tolerate this on a Saturday too?”

Trevor Shonfeld, co-chair of BRAG added: “We’ve been massively impacted by the construction as of late, and all residents are up in arms about it. It’s varying levels of sound from straight demolition to construction noise which is very noisy work. The only time where people feel like they can get their lives back together is on the weekends, accommodating the noise and disruption in some form which has been going on for two years.”

Dr Kelly, a pioneering paediatric hepatologist said: “I’m not against medical research but I don’t think we’ve got any clarity as to precisely what it is they are going to do yet. I don’t feel any warmer towards the laboratory plans.”

A Native Land spokesperson said: “Noise and vibration are continuously monitored under Camden Council’s oversight, with recent readings showing levels remain below agreed thresholds. In response to residents’ feedback, we’ve withdrawn an application for Saturday working and are reviewing further ways to reduce impact.

“LifeArc’s move to Judd Street will secure the building’s long-term charitable use, create new community partnerships, and provide free work­space for life science SMEs and charities, alongside world-class medical research.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We investigated noise complaints in March and undertook a full site inspection in June. We found that the developer was operating in accordance with the construction management plan, including taking steps to reduce disruption during louder works.

“The council is considering a planning application for amendments to the approved development. Residents’ concerns regarding the future use of the site as laboratories, will be reviewed and responded to in detail as part of that assessment.”